A four run rally in the seventh inning brought the Indianapolis Indians back from a three run deficit to defeat the Norfolk Tides by the score of 7-6 yesterday afternoon at Victory Field.

The Tribe also got solo homers from left fielder Alex Presley, first baseman Matt Hague and catcher Dusty Brown to take the second game of the four game series against the Tides.

The Tribe took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Presley knocked his third home run of the season over the right field wall. But the first inning also saw the loss of Indians third baseman Josh Harrison who had to leave the game with an injured leg after leading off the home half of the first with a single to left. His status is unknown at this time.

Indianapolis doubled its lead in the second inning as Brown hit his third homer of the season to make it a 2-0 game.

Norfolk plated three runs in the top of the fourth to take their first lead of the game as Nick Green smacked his third homer of the season with fellow Tides Brandon Snyder and Rhyne Hughes on board via a single and a walk to give Norfolk a 3-2 lead after three and a half innings.

The Tides would tack on a run in the sixth on a Hughes RBI double but the Tribe would answer in the bottom half of the inning when Hague belted his first home run of the season to left to keep it a one run game after six innings at 4-3.

In the seventh inning the Tides once again tried to put some distance between themselves and the Indians when Tyler Henson hit a two run homer to left to give Norfolk a three run lead at 6-3.

But the Indians for the second game in a row staged a late inning comeback as the Tides brought in Armando Gabini in to relieve starter Michael Ballard. Brown led off the inning with his sixth double of the year followed by a Brian Friday walk. Gorkys Hernandez followed with a two run double to left to cut the deficit to 6-5 with still nobody out in the Tribe seventh. Chase d’Arnaud followed with a ground out that allowed Hernandez to move to third and Hernandez came home with the tying run on Pedro Ciriaco’s sacrifice fly to center field to tie the game at six. Presley followed with a single to center and advanced to second a balk by Gabino. Presley scored what proved to be the winning run when he came home on a Hague RBI single to make it a 7-6 Indians advantage.

Tribe reliever Justin Thomas picked up his first win of the season in relief of starter Brad Lincoln after Lincoln went six and two-thirds innings giving up six runs on six hits including two Tides homers while striking out five. Thomas pitched two-thirds of an inning before turning the ball over to Tim Wood for the final inning and two-thirds as Wood recorded his third save of the season.

The loss was pinned on Gabino who pitched just two-thirds of an inning giving up four runs on four hits blowing the save opportunity for Tides starter Ballard. Ballard left the game with the lead after pitching six innings giving up three runs on seven hits, striking out three and walking three along with the three Tribe homers.

The Indians and Tides continue their four-game series on tonight at 7:05 p.m. RHP Chorye Spoone is scheduled to start for Norfolk, while LHP Rudy Owens is expected to get the nod for Indianapolis.

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